Aston Martin V12 Vantage coming to the U.S.

Today it became official: Aston Martin V12 Vantage is coming to the United States!Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage will feature a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb ft) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and 0-62 mph (0-100 kp/h) time of 4.2 seconds.

The latest incarnation of the Vantage family has been designed to provide a unique character, appealing to different driver tastes and complementing the other models in the current Aston Martin line-up. The original V12 Vantage concept was unveiled to guests at the opening of the Aston Martin Design Studio in December 2007.

Continuing the marque’s impressive record of bringing concepts through to production, Aston Martin engineers have brought the V12 Vantage to market in an incredible 12 months.

Within just 12 months after unveiling the original V12 Vantage concept at the Aston Martin Design Studio in December 2007, the carmaker once again made an impressive move by launching its production version.

According to Aston Martin chief executive Ulrich Bez, the production version of the V12 Vantage illustrates one of the carmaker’s key strengths – its ability to quickly transform concepts and ideas into reality. During the development of the V12 Vantage, Aston Martin focused on creating a vehicle that could offer pure driving enjoyment.

Thus, the carmaker used race-developed materials and components as well as lightweight carbon fiber to turn the V12 Vantage into a potent machine with superb performance and agility. To properly express the V12 Vantage’s potent road dynamics, Aston Martin created a purposeful stance through improved aerodynamics as well as cooling aids that visually widen the vehicle.

Aston Martin also endowed the V12 Vantage with an indulging interior that does not only provide the much wanted comfort and luxury but also urge drivers to optimize the car’s performance. More importantly, the V12 Vantage features an engine that provides much wanted power and torque at all engine speeds, thereby ensuring that the car is as responsive wherever it is driven.

Bez described the V12 Vantage as the “ultimate performance interpretation” of the Vantage range as it combines the carmaker’s most agile model and its most powerful engine. He referred to the V12 Vantage as a representation of the definitive driving package, primarily because it merges spectacular performance and everyday driving functionality.

Aston Martin’s CEO remarked that the V12 Vantage dons a unique character unlike the carmaker’s other cars. He noted that they expect the V12 Vantage to appeal to different people with different tastes. Aston Martin will build the V12 Vantage at its state-of-the-art production facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire using only high-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship.

Only 1,000 examples will be produced over the life span of the V12 Vantage. Aston Martin will start deliveries of the ordered units in the third quarter of 2009 and will be announcing its pricing at the Geneva motor show.

Press Release

ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE CONFIRMED FOR NORTH AMERICA

In response to unprecedented customer demand, Aston Martin has confirmed that the V12 Vantage – the most potent production sports car in the marque’s 96-year history - will be made available in North America from later this year.

Based on the hugely successful V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage features a 6.0 litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp (380 kW / 517 PS), and 420 lb ft (570 Nm) of torque with a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 4.2 seconds.

Originally launched in 2009, the V12 Vantage has quickly established itself as a firm favourite with enthusiasts and media observers alike, winning a series of accolades and praise around the world and proving a huge sales success for the British marque.

Although the originally small anticipated level of demand from North America meant that the car would not be homologated for the market, unprecedented demand from customers prompted an engineering study into potential feasibility; with the strict brief that any changes could not impact on the overall design of the car. Now just six months later, a series of engineering refinements have been introduced to satisfy the specific requirements of the North American market.

Benefitting from the modular nature of the VH architecture, the Aston Martin engineering team were able to review the virtual and physical testing data for all modern era Aston Martins. Following this study a detailed Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) analysis resulted in the development of an alternative load transfer path, incorporating an innovative version of the structure at the front of the car, which now satisfies North American requirements.

Aston Martin Chief Commercial Officer, Michael van der Sande commented: “We are very pleased to be able to respond to customer demand and launch this car in North America – still our biggest market globally.

“This illustrates one of Aston Martin’s key strengths – the ability to act quickly and turn concepts and ideas into reality, giving our customers what they want.”

For launch in North America, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage will also be available in a highly desirable and strictly limited Carbon Black special edition.

This new special edition adds a typically understated flair to V12 Vantage. On the exterior, the car features a bespoke Carbon Black metallic paint with a subtle metallic twist to create a deep rich patina; painstakingly created through a hand painting process taking 50 man hours. The iconic Aston Martin side strake has been fashioned from real carbon fibre backed by a black mesh and complimented with gloss black 10 spoke diamond turned alloy wheels. A bright finished grille and front parking sensors (normally an option) complete the exterior detailing.

Inside, owners will be greeted to swathes of Obsidian Black leather highlighted with a contrast silver coarse stitch all hand stitched by the craftspeople at Gaydon – Aston Martin’s global headquarters in England. Also featured are a Piano black facia trim, centre stack and centre console, anodised black tread plates and unique sill plaques build on the carbon theme. The normally optional Aston Martin 700w Premium Audio System is delivered as standard equipment.

Designed for the focused driver, every component of the V12 Vantage has been honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind. Benefitting from race-developed materials and components; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection.

The latest incarnation of the Vantage family has been designed to provide a unique character, appealing to different driver tastes and complementing the other models in the current Aston Martin line-up.Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its performance potential through its purposeful stance created by enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids optically widening the car, while retaining traditional understated Aston Martin design. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys. High levels of power and torque are available at all engine speeds making the V12 Vantage responsive and tractable in any driving situation.

The V12 Vantage is also as at home on the track as it is on the road; last year as the final engineering durability test for the car, a near-standard specification V12 Vantage competed in the gruelling Nürburgring 24-hour race driving to a class victory at the hands representatives from the company’s engineering team, including CEO Dr Ulrich Bez. A similar V12 Vantage is set to compete in the 2010 race this May.

The V12 Vantage is built at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire joining the DBS, DB9 and V8 Vantage model lines which are built in the state-of-the-art production facility combining hi-tech manufacturing processes with traditional hand-craftsmanship.

The V12 Vantage is available to order now and deliveries to North America are expected to commence during quarter four 2010 with prices to be confirmed in the coming weeks.